This was sent to me by my sister, whose daughter-in-law's brother works
for GM in Michigan.
This is important, current and very valuable information. Please read
and don't
delete until you get to the end.
Darryl Widman, KF6DI
Sorry if you get this more than once! Please pass it on!
Subject: Car Fires / Static
Ironic. I was just out at the (GM) Proving Grounds on Tuesday and we saw
a
presentation on electronic magnetic discharge. We were told that
vehicles
contain more and more electronics - items like CD players, OnStar,
satellite radio, in addition to cruise control, ABS, on-board
diagnostics
to electronically controlled fuel injection. All of this put together
with
vehicle materials, such as the Scotch Guard on the seats, creates more
static. That's why you are more likely to get shocked just getting in
and
out of your car.
At MPG (Milford Proving Grounds), they stressed the two most important
points to remember are:
Don't use cell phones while fueling (what about Amateur Radios?)
Don't go sit in your car while filling up the tank - especially in dry
(and cold) winter conditions
Subject: Stop Static
Bob Renkes of Petroleum Equipment Institute is working on a campaign to
try
and make people aware of fires as a result of "static" at gas pumps. His
company has researched 150 cases of these fires. His results were very
surprising:
1) Out of 150 cases, almost all of them were women.
2) Almost all cases involved the person getting back in their vehicle
while
the nozzle was still pumping gas, when finished and they went back to
pull
the nozzle out the fire started, as a result of static.
3) Most had on rubber-soled shoes.
4) Most men never get back in their vehicle until completely finished.
This is why they are seldom involved in these types of fires.
5) Don't ever use cell phones when pumping gas
6) It is the vapors that come out of the gas that cause the fire, when
connected with static charges.
7) There were 29 fires where the vehicle was reentered and the nozzle was
touched during refueling from a variety of makes and models. Some
resulting
in extensive damage to the vehicle, to the station, and to the customer.
8) Seventeen fires that occurred before, during or immediately after the
gas cap was removed and before fueling began.
Mr. Renkes stresses to NEVER get back into your vehicle while filling it
with gas. If you absolutely HAVE to get in your vehicle while the gas is
pumping, make sure you get out, close the door TOUCHING THE METAL, before
you ever pull the nozzle out. This way the static from your body will be
discharged before you ever remove the nozzle.
As I mentioned earlier, The Petroleum Equipment Institute, along with
several other companies now, are really trying to make the public aware
of
this danger. You can find out more information by going to
http://www.pei.org. Once here, click in the center of the screen where it
says "Stop Static".
I ask you to please send this information to ALL your family and friends,
especially those who have kids in the car with them while pumping gas. If
this were to happen to them, they may not be able to get the children out
in time.
Thanks for passing this along.
ARRLSBCLUBS - Helping Your Club Grow and Prosper.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Please pass the word that due to a conflict with a one-time company
event,
the September, 2002 TRW Swap Meet is cancelled. See attached flyer.
Please
refer all questions to the TRW Radio Club via their web site:
http://w6trw.com
73, Art W6XD
______________________________________________
ARRLSBClubs mailing list
ARRLSBClubs(a)mailman.qth.net
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/arrlsbclubshttp://www.qsl.net/arrlsbclubs
Council Secretary - mailto:arrlsbclubs@qsl.netD
"Editor's Notes" in the July issue of Key-Klix indicated that Denny
Morales would be the editor for August, and gave instructions for
submitting articles to him. Denny has asked to trade assignments with
me, so now I will assemble the August issue and he will handle
September.
MONDAY, JULY 29th, IS THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF MATERIAL FOR THE
AUGUST KEY-KLIX. Submissions can be e-mailed to me or to
keyklix(a)sbarc.org, faxed to the number below, or dropped off at my
house by prearrangement. Because my work on this issue was
unexpected, I'm having to work it in with other planned activities.
This means that I won't be able to accommodate any late submissions.
Thanks.
Mack Stanton, KD6NBZ
230 Bonnie Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93108
Ph: 695-8828
FAX: 969-7592
Mark your calendar for the next southern California radio-orienteering
session, which will be Saturday, August 10 at El Dorado Regional Park
East in
Long Beach. As usual, practice transmitters go on the air at 11:30 AM
and
the main hunt begins at 12:30. More details and maps are at my Web
site.
See you there!
73,
Joe Moell K0OV
www.homingin.com
ARRLSBCLUBS - Helping Your Club Grow and Prosper.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Art, Thanks for your reply. I don't envy you doing all of that driving.
I
bet you didn't get more sleep than those guys that stayed up all night.
I
thought I would let you know the Estero Radio Club, Inc. has for the
past
three years, entered a float in the Cayucos 4th. of July Parade. There
is a
picture of the one we entered two years ago on our web page. We made
minor
changes and entered it again last year and we won 1st. place for these
two
entries. This year we entered a float depicting the Piedras Blancas
Lighthouse as our club is dedicated to helping restore it. Our float
came in
second place but since the parade we have been asked by several clubs
and
organizations to enter in other parades and even loan them our
lighthouse
for their theme program. I have a picture of this year's float and I'll
send
it to you. We are participating in the National Lighthouse/Lightship
weekend
on Aug. 3 and 4 and again on the International Lighthouse/Lightship
weekend
on Aug. 17 and 18. We set up a station at the Piedras Blancas Lighthouse
which is about 6.5 miles North of San Simeon (Hearst Castle). Last year
we
operated at the Port San Luis Lightstation but the security is too
restrictive as it is on the road to the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power
Plant.
If you are interested in seeing a "Lighthouse" operation, let me know
and
I'll see you get on the site either of the days listed. The purpose of
this
operation is to let the world know about these great landmarks and what
is
being done to preserve them. We will be doing this in conjunction with
the
Bureau of Land Management. We keep Rob Griffin informed on our
activities
as we are an "ARRL Special Service Club" and we are proud of our
abilities
to keep our club alive and active. I hope to bring our web site up to
date
in the next week or so and the activities page will show pictures of
what we
have been doing for the past three years. We passed out 250 of the
Archie
Comics along the parade route this past 4th. which is one way we hope to
get
more interest in ham radio by the young people. We plan to start classes
in
radio construction starting with crystal sets and going into low power
two
way on the AM band. This is how we want to interest the students and
their
parents in becoming involved in radio. 73 and have a good summer. Jim
Palmer W6FOB
Check our web site at: www.sloradio.net
ARRLSBCLUBS - Helping Your Club Grow and Prosper.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Folks,
The final installment of 48 Field Day photos is now posted to:
http://home.attbi.com/~w6xd/wsb
The clubs in this installment are in the LAX and SBAR sections.
Included
are: Los Angeles Radio Club, TRW ARC, South Bay ARC, Northrop-Grumman
RC,
Palos Verdes ARC, United RAC, Coast Guard Auxiliary RC, ARA Long Beach,
Santa Barbara ARC, Poinsettia ARC, Ventura County ARC, Conejo Valley
ARC,
Ventura County ARS, Simi Settlers ARC, and Santa Clarita ARC.
Please pass the word along to others who may be interested.
73, Art W6XD
